Sunday, October 30, 2011

Divorce and Custody Movie Review - Falling Down

Today I review Falling Down from my collection of divorce, child custody and child support related movies.

Falling Down [1992] - Written by Ebbe Roe Smith; directed by Joel Schumacher. Starring Michael Douglas who portrays a divorced man on a mission to see his daughter on her birthday. It is subtly implied that his intolerance and anger issues have led to his divorce which he blames on his mother. A month after being dismissed from a defense contractor job he unwinds while sitting in stopped traffic at the beginning of his day. Throughout the day he unleashed his brand of justice upon anything or anyone he perceives as not meeting his standards. As he closes in upon the home of his ex-wife and daughter he envisions that "Everything will be just like it was before".

Director of Photography Andrzej Bartkowiak does an excellent job of bringing the viewer into the picture. The story is well delivered by Schumacher who shows enough action and violence to convey the story without going over the top. Although Douglas is given the appearance of some justification in his actions it is well demonstrated and aptly so that he was clearly not a stable parent nor acting in the best interest of his child. The story is predictable but compelling to view as Douglas' character teeters on the brink of falling apart while coming to realizations about himself and the ultimate consequences of his actions.

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©2011 Stuart Showalter, LLC. Permission is granted to all non-commercial entities to reproduce this article in it's entirety with credit given.

3 comments:

Burningbird19 said...

His ex wife clearly states he never hit his daughter or her. There’s zero evidence of him being violent in the relationship. This movie goes to show the turmoil hardworking men go through when their child is taken and their good name is dragged through family court. The judge made an example of him because his ex wife, with no evidence, stated he was violent... this goes on still today, men are being hung, drawn and quartered based on false allegations in family courts and judges just believing women’s fabrications or perceptions. Separated fathers are committing suicide at higher rates than ever in history, it’s no coincidence when they are second class parents. After a break up a woman can destroy a man in family court, take all his hard earned money and stop him seeing his children.. what does he have left? It would drive many to the edge...

Burningbird19 said...

His ex wife clearly states he never hit his daughter or her. There’s zero evidence of him being violent in the relationship. This movie goes to show the turmoil hardworking men go through when their child is taken and their good name is dragged through family court. The judge made an example of him because his ex wife, with no evidence, stated he was violent... this goes on still today, men are being hung, drawn and quartered based on false allegations in family courts and judges just believing women’s fabrications or perceptions. Separated fathers are committing suicide at higher rates than ever in history, it’s no coincidence when they are second class parents. After a break up a woman can destroy a man in family court, take all his hard earned money and stop him seeing his children.. what does he have left? It would drive many to the edge...

Burningbird19 said...

His ex wife clearly states he never hit his daughter or her. There’s zero evidence of him being violent in the relationship. This movie goes to show the turmoil hardworking men go through when their child is taken and their good name is dragged through family court. The judge made an example of him because his ex wife, with no evidence, stated he was violent... this goes on still today, men are being hung, drawn and quartered based on false allegations in family courts and judges just believing women’s fabrications or perceptions. Separated fathers are committing suicide at higher rates than ever in history, it’s no coincidence when they are second class parents. After a break up a woman can destroy a man in family court, take all his hard earned money and stop him seeing his children.. what does he have left? It would drive many to the edge...